BJP MP Jagadish Shettar reviewed ongoing road works and said the entire 13.33-km bypass road project is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Work on the Halaga–Macche bypass, a four-kilometre stretch linking two National Highways around Belagavi, will be finished by the end of this month, Mr. Shettar said on Saturday.
Speaking to reporters after a review meeting with senior officials from the district administration, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Railways, Airport authorities and other departments, he said the full 13.33-km bypass project is targeted for completion later this year.
The Halaga–Macche road connects Suvarna Soudha on the Pune–Bengaluru National Highway with Visvesvaraya Technological University on the Belagavi–Goa National Highway.
The bypass is expected to ease traffic congestion in the city by diverting heavy vehicles travelling between Goa and Hubballi away from Belagavi’s main roads. Officials informed the MP that service road works are likely to be completed by April.
Officials also stated that the six-lane Belagavi–Sankeshwar highway is nearing completion. Land acquisition for most of the 43.8-km Phase-1 stretch of the Belagavi–Hungund–Raichur highway has already been completed. Work on the Belagavi–Kittur–Dharwad railway line is progressing as planned, with around 1,200 acres of land acquired in the first phase.
Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Roshan said the State government has sanctioned ₹50 crore to compensate farmers who lost land for the project. Once the compensation process is completed, tenders for construction of the railway line can be invited.
Railway officials said permission has been sought from the Police Commissioner to change the traffic route near LC No. 381 (Third Gate) at Tilakwadi to facilitate construction of the second lane of the railway overbridge.
Mr. Shettar also noted that development works at Belagavi Airport have slowed as the Indian Air Force has not yet handed over the required land. He said he will raise the issue with the concerned authorities at the Centre.
Special Land Acquisition Officer Rajashree Jainapur, NHAI Project Director Bhuvanesh Kumar, Airport Director S. Thiagarajan and other officials were present at the meeting.
